Jakarta, INTI - President Prabowo Subianto has called on the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to develop domestic desalination technology capable of converting seawater into potable water to help meet the needs of communities facing clean water shortages.
The directive was issued during a coordination meeting on disaster impact management in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Wednesday.
Prabowo’s request came after Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo reported severe clean water shortages on Palue Island in Sikka Regency, one of the remote areas affected by the earthquake.
Prabowo Calls for Domestic Desalination Development
Prabowo said the development of desalination technology should involve not only BRIN but also the Indonesia Defense University (Unhan), the Indonesian Military (TNI), and engineering faculties.
The President wants Indonesia to develop desalination systems that can be built domestically and rapidly deployed to areas with urgent clean water needs.
“I have asked BRIN, perhaps together with Unhan, the TNI, and engineering faculties, to develop desalination technology that we can build ourselves and immediately send to areas that need it most,” Prabowo said during the meeting.
He emphasized that water is a vital necessity and that reliable access to clean water is particularly critical in post-disaster situations, such as those affecting communities across Flores and surrounding small islands, including Palue Island.
According to Prabowo, the government must address clean water availability not only through emergency measures but also through medium- and long-term strategies.
“Water is extremely important. So, beyond short-term measures, we must also think about medium- and long-term efforts,” the President said.
Desalination Technology Becoming More Affordable
Prabowo noted that advances in science and technology have made desalination increasingly feasible for wider deployment, particularly in coastal areas that require additional sources of clean water.
He said desalination technology was prohibitively expensive around 30 years ago and was therefore largely accessible only to wealthier countries.
Today, technological advances have significantly reduced desalination costs, creating opportunities for the technology to be implemented even at the village level.
“Disasters encourage us to think more creatively. We now realize that advances in science and technology are making many technologies more affordable. Desalination was unaffordable 30 years ago and was limited to wealthy nations. Today, we can develop desalination systems even at the village level,” Prabowo said.
Post-Disaster Recovery to Strengthen NTT’s Economy
Prabowo stressed that post-disaster recovery should not focus solely on rebuilding damaged infrastructure but should also serve as an opportunity to make affected regions stronger, more productive, and more resilient.
In developing NTT, the President also highlighted the potential for solar power plants, fisheries zones, and other productive economic activities.
Prabowo proposed utilizing currently unproductive mountainous areas for solar power development to generate energy that could support economic projects.
“If necessary, we can build solar power plants across the mountains that are not yet productive. How many gigawatts of solar power could be generated here to provide energy for productive economic projects? I am optimistic that this region can eventually become a source of food for the nation and the world,” the President said.
Prabowo expressed optimism that stronger water resources, renewable energy, fisheries, and productive economic activities could help transform NTT into an important food-producing region for Indonesia and the global community.
Conclusion
Indonesia is looking to expand homegrown desalination technology as part of a broader strategy to address clean water shortages and strengthen disaster resilience. By combining technological innovation, renewable energy, and productive economic development, the government aims to build a more sustainable and resilient future for NTT.
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